Car brake and starter



(No Model.)

` T. B. WEBSTER.

Car Brake and Starter.

Wm y..

N- PEERS. FHOTD-LITNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' THOMAS B. WEBSTER, OF ELIZABETHPORT, NEW JERSEY.

CAR BRAKE AND STARTER.

`SPECIFICATIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,206, dated March22, 1881.

i Application lcd November 30, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS B. WEBSTER, ofElizabethport, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in GarBrakes andSta-rtersaiulin Clutches therefor, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is applicable, principally, to horse-cars forstreet-railways; and its object is to provide, in a simple andconvenient manner, for storing up powerl derived from the momentum ofthe car when brakes are applied to stop it, and to effectively applysuch power to aid inl starting the car.

My invention consists in the combination, with the two axles of a car orcartruck, ot' a drum upon one axle, which may be locked fast theretowhen the car is to be stopped, and by its rotation, acting' throughchains or other connections, rotates a drum loosely mounted upon theother 'axle ofthe car, and through other chains or connections attachedto the last-mentioned drum compresses or applies tension to a spring orsprings and stops the car.

permit the drum to rotate freely on the axle While tension is applied tothe spring or` springs, but which prevent the drum from being rotated inthe opposite direction by the resilience of said spring or sprin gswithout imparting motion to the car-axle upon which itis mounted. Wheretwo clutches are employed in connection with the last-mentioned drumthey are arranged upon said axle so that one prevents the rotation ofthe axle independ-` ently of the drum in one direction, while the otherprevents its rotation independently of the drum in the oppositedirection, and I employin connection with said drum and clutches novelmeans for rendering either one ot' said clutches inoperative, so as toprovide for moving the car in either direction.

The invention also consists in a novel construction of clutch, which Imuse in carrying out my invention.

The invention also consists in various novel details of construction, tobe hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l` represents Va plan, partly insection, of the run- I einploy,in connection with the last. mentioneddrum,a clutch or clutches, which the parts D',

ninggear of a car having my improved devices connected therewith, and adotted outline of the frame ofthe platform. Fig. 2 represents alongitudinal section thereof upon the dotted line w x, Fig. 1. Fig. 3represents a portiouof one of the axles and a central longitudinalsection ofthe drum, which is connected by chains or other connectionswith the spring or springs. Fig. trepresents a similar section at rightangles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a transverse section .upon thedotted line y y, Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 represents a similar section on thedotted line z z, Fig. 4t.

vSimilar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures. 4

A designates the frame of avcarplatform, and B and U designate,respectively, the front and rear axles, supported in suitable bearingsattach ed to the frame, and having secured upon them wheels C', theaxles being adapted to rotate with the wheels.

Upon the front axle, B, is a clutch, consisting of a central femaleportion or drum,\D, which is mounted loosely upon theJ axle B, and twomale parts, D', which are placed upon opposite sides of .said centralpart or drum,D,

and are secured to the axle by means of feath-` ers, so as to rotatetherewith, but also so that they are capable of longitudinal movementthereon. The parts D are constructed with conical portions orprojections a, adapted to enter correspondingly-shaped recesses in thepart D, and, when the parts D are moved to- Ward each other, to lock thecentral part, D, fast to the axle, so as to rotate therewith.` As shownin Fig. the recesses in the` part D,

`into which the projections a enter, are lined with Wood, so as toprevent abrasion from iron 4working against iron.

E designates levers, pivoted at b to suitable supports depending fromthe car-platform, forked at one end to engage with grooves inandconnected at the other end by toggle-links E with a draw-bar, E2. BythisA arrangement `of levers, when the car is beingdrawn forward, theaxle B rotates freely of the centralpartfor drum, D.

`Upon the axle Gis loosely mounted a drum, F, which is divided intothree annular recesses orfgrooves, c c c. In the outer recesses orgrooves, c c, are attached chains dud", or simi- IOO lar flexibleconnections, which are wound once or more around the drum, and arethence passed one to the upper and the other to the under side of thedrum D, and are Wound thereon in opposite directions and attached at theends thereto.

Gr designates bolts or rods, which project inward from the end of thecar-frame A; and H designates spiral springs arranged upon said bolts,and flttin g between the ends thereof and a cross-head, I, which isadapted to slide longitudinally thereon., To the cross-head I isattached a chain or other connection, e, which is wound around the drumF in an opposite direction to the chains d cl, and in the centralannular recess or groove, o', and hasits end attached to said drum.

In lieu of the two springs G, asingle spring, properly arranged, mightbe employed.

When it is desired to stop the car the drawbar E is moved inward by thedriver 0r conductor by any suitable means-as,for instance, by abrake-spindle, J, having an arm or toe, adapted to en gage with a collarupon the drawbar, and the inward movement of said drawbar, actingthrough toggle-links E and levers E, moves the parts D nearer togetherand toward the part D,thereby locking said part firmly upon the axle,and causing it to rotate therewith. The turning of the drum D, actin gthrough the chain d, passed around the upper side thereof,will rotatethe drum F, and through the chain c will draw the cross-head I along`the bolts or rods G and compress the springs H, which offer arapidly-increasin g resistance to the turning of the drums D and F, andnally stop the car. In some cases, where the car is not turned round atthe end ofthe route, i

it will be necessary to be able to move the car in a reverse directionto that here indicated,`

and when the car is thus drawn the chain d', passed around the underside of the drum D, will act in the same manner as previously describedto compress the springs H.

The brake should be always under control of the driver as well as theconductor 5 and to enable the driver to apply the brake when the car isdrawn backward, I provide at the rear end of the car a secondbrake-spindle, J The two spindles J J are provided with pulleysor wheelsg g,- and g gf designate chains or other connections wound around andxed to said pulleys, by pins or otherwise, and extending in oppositedirections from each spindle around guide-pulleys g2 g2. The chains gmight extend the length of the car; but the chains which extend to theright and left of the spindles', after passing around the guide-pulleysg2, are preferably connected by two small rods, g3.

' When the horses are attached to the drawbar E2, the parts D are madeto engage with the drum D by the driver, but are disengaged from saiddrum to -free it from the axle by the forward pull of the horses uponthe draw-bar in starting the car. When, however, the horses are attachedto what is here the rear of the car,the driver not only moves thedraw-bar inward to lock the drum D to the axle, but he must also move itin the opposite direction to release said drum from the axle.

So far as described the mechanism for stopping the car is complete; butin order to apply the power of the springs H, itis necessary that thedrum F be locked fast to the axle O when turned in the oppositedirection to that in which it is turned to compress said springs.

As the drum F may be turned to compress the springs by 'the turning ofthe drum. D in either direction incident t0 themovement of the car inVeither direction, it is obvious that when the car is moving forward thedrum F should be locked fast to the axle C when turned in the directionindicated by the arrow, Fig. 1, and turn free in the opposite direction,while when the car is moved backward the drum F should turn free of theaxle when turned in the direction indicated by said arrow, and be lockedfast thereto when turned in the opposite direction. This is elfected bymeans of a clutch of any suitable character at each end of the drum F,and mechanism for rendering either clutch inoperative at the pleasure ofthe driver or conductor. For this purpose I prefer to use a peculiarconstruction of clutch. (Shown best in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6.)-

The drum F, which, as before stated, is loosemounted upon the axle C, isconstructed at to form parts of two clutches, the other parts, F F2, ofwhich are made fast to the axle, so as to rotate therewith. rIheconnection between the parts F and F is such -that the former may turnfree of the latter in one direction, and the connection between theparts F2 and F is such that the former may turn free of the latter inthe other direction. The drum F has in its ends annular spaces l1, h',while the parts F and F2 have each a lip or rim, t', adapted to slipover the drum F and hold the three parts concentrically.

K K K K designate dogs, of which a pair, K K, are arranged between theparts F and F, and a pair, K K', between the parts F2 and F, and whichare provided with proiections j, fitting in the annular spaces h and h',and the form of which is shown in dotted outline in Figs. 5 and 6. Uponthe inner face of each part F and F2 arel two lugs, 7c, opposite eachother, and adapted to engage with the faces of the dogs at oppositepoints, l.. The only difference in the connection between the parts Fand F and the parts F2 and F is that the dogs K in one case are arrangeddirectly opposite to the arrangement of the dogs K in the other case, asseen by a comparison' of Figs. 5 and 6. Although the arrows in Figs. 5and 6 point in opposite directions, they really indicate the movement ofthe drum F in the same direction, as said iigures show opposite ends ofthe said drum. When the drum F is turned in the direction indicated bythe arrow, Fig. 5, it will turn freely of thepart F; but when turned inthe opposite direction by ly each end so as ICO ` F2, turn said part,and with it the axle, while when turned in the opposite direction thethe force of the springs H the outer side of the annular space [i willbite upon the edges of `the projections j at j', and forcing the oppo`site angle of said projections again st the inner side of said annularspace and locking the dogs will canse them both to move with said idrum, and bythe faces lof said dogs engag` ing withn the lugs k upon thepart F', said part.,`

with the axle C, will be turned and the car impelled forward. When thedrum F is turned in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 5 and 6, the dogsK between it and the part FZ (see Fig. 6) will be locked in the annularspace h',

in the manner just described with `reference to the dogs K, and will, bythe faces l of the dogs K bearing against the lugs 7c on the part drum Fwill turn free of the part F2.

When the car is to be moved forward the clutch-connection between thedrum F and the part Fzjs to be rendered` inoperative, while when the caris to be moved backward the similar connection between the drum Fand thepart F is to be rendered inoperative. This l effect by means of twoanges or collars, L L2, mountedloosely on the hubs of the parts Fand F2,and adapted to be shifted longitudinally of the axle C by means of forksa n engaging with grooves therein and actuatedby levers M M2. The flanges or collars L L2 carry pins or projections o, which are inclined upontheirinner sides, and by theV movement of the langes or collars inwardare inserted through holes in the parts F F2 out! side the dogs K K',and `by their inclined inner sides4 bearing uponsaid dogs the dogs ofeach pair are'moved toward each other, which prevents theannular spacesh h' from locking the dogs when the drum F is turned in eitherdirection. When both anges or collars L L2 are moved inward to renderboth clutches inoperative,`the drum F is entirely free, audcan- `nottransmit the power of the springs H to turn the axle C. When the ange orcollar L( is moved inward, the car is adapted for .moving backward, andwhen the iiauge or collar Ii2 is moved inward, as seen in Figs. l and 4,the car is adapted to move forward. Vhen both flanges or collars `LKL2are moved outward, both clutches are operative and the drum locked fastto the axle C.

l/.Vhere the car is intended to be turned round at the end of each trip,the part F2 is dispensed with., and in such case no means are employedfor rendering the clutch-connection between thedrumF and the part Finoperative, and

in place of the chains d d' only one chain .is

y necessary.

Though I have only represented this form of clutch as applicable to myinvention,it may be employed for any other purpose to which it isadapted, and when so employed, although the part F might not be a drum,as here shown, it would in all cases be loose upon an axle or shaft,while the part F would be fast thereon.

i the rear axle, C.

-ment with the car-frame, as shown dotted in Fig. 2, so as to be free toadjust themselves in lille withthe upper or lower periphery ot' the drumF, `to permit of the chain e pulling in a direct line with the bolts G,whether the car is moving ahead or backward.

It will be observed that the force of the springs in braking the car isall exerted upon the front axle, B, and that the power ot' said springsin starting the caris all exerted npon In case the load were principallyover the axle (l, the wheels ofthe axle B might slip upon the trackwithout effectively stopping the car, and in case the load wereprincipally over the axle B the axle C, when impelled forward by thesprings, might not act effectively in starting the car. To obviate bothot' these difficulties, I prefer to connect the two axles so that onecannot turn inde pendently of the other, and this may be cou-` venientlydone by one or two chain-wheels ,p, tixed to each axle, and achain orchains, p', from one wheel to the other, as shown in dotted outline inFig. l.

I am aware that a car braking and starting apparatus has been devised inwhich the two axles ot' a car are constructed with square por-` tionsand com )risin 0 four drums two of which 7 are shifted upon said squareportions to put tension uponsprings to brake the car,and the others ofwhich are then shifted upon said square portions, to enable the springsto exert their power in starting, the two first-mentioned drums beingsimultaneously removed from said square portions. Such apparatus can,how` ever, only be employed to bring the car to a full stop, as thedrums are locked fast to the axle, and there is no chance for slip, andtherefore separate braking mechanism must be employed for checking thespeed of the car on downgrades when it is not desired to come to a fullstop. Another objection to such apparatus is, that it requires a specialconstruction of car-axle, and cannot be readily applied to any car, ascan mine.

I am also aware that it is old to combine with each of two car-axles twodrums, one of which may be locked fasty to the axle for the purpose ofcompressing springs, and the other of which may be locked fast totheaxle for applying the power of the springs to turn the axle.

I Ydo not claim either ofthe above-described mechanisms as of-myinvention, and in lboth of them it is necessary, after tension isapplied to IOS IIO

the springs, to employ devices for holding the springs, while the drumsthrough which tension is applied to them are released from the axles,and the drums through which their power is transmitted are locked fastto the axles. In my caseno-such holding devices are necessary,for assoon as the horses start ahead and exert a pull 0n the draw-bar (theclutch'connection through which the springs transmit their power to theaxle being of such a nature that the said drum is automaticallylockedfast to the axle) the springs at once exert their power upon the axle.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination, with the two axles ot' a car or car-truck, of a drummounted loosely upon one axle, a clutch for locking said drum fast tosaid axle, a .draw-bar connected with said clutch, and means for movingsaid drawbar inward to disengage the said drum from said axle, a drummounted loosely upon the other axle, a spring or springs, and chains orother connections wound upon the last-nnentioned drum in oppositedirections, and connected, one with said spring or springs and the otherwith the first-mentioned drum, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

2. The combination, with the axles B, of the drum D, the clutch portionsD', the levers E, toggle-links E', and draw-bar E2, all substantially asspecified.

3. The combination, with the axle B, of the drum D, the clutch portionsD', the levers E, toggle-links E', draw-bar E2, and the brakespindles JJ' at opposite ends ot' the car, connected with said draw-bar for movingit inward, all substantially as specified.

4. lhe combination, with the axles B and C, of a drum, D, on the axle B,a drum, F, loosely mounted on the axle C, the parts F F2, fixed to theaxle C, a clutch-connection between the drum F and part F', forpreventing the drum from turning independentlyof said axle in onedirection only, and a similar connection between the. drum F and partF2, for preventing the drum from turning independentlyT of said axle inthe. other direction only, means for rendering either clutch-connectioninoperative', a spring` or springs, and chains or other connections, d,d', and e, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination, in a clutch, of a part, F, having in its face anannular space, h, a

part, F', having upon its facelugs 7c, and dogs K K, arranged betweensaid parts and on op- -posite sides ot' said lugs 7c, and havingprojections j, engaging with said annular space,

substantiallyT as and for the purpose specied.

6, The combination of the axle C, drum F, having in its ends annularspaces b L, the parts F F2, pairs ot' dogs K K K' K', having,projections for itting in said annular spaces,

lian ges or collars L L2, movable longitudinally upon the axle, andprovided with pins orprojections o, whereby the dogs of each pair aremoved toward each other as said ianges or vcollars are moved inward,substantiallyT as speciiied.

7. The combination, with the two car-axles, the drum D and clutchportions D' upon one axle, the drum F and parts F'F2, each having aclutch-connection with the drum F, upon the Aother axle, n spring orsprings, and the con-

